The following morning, Vanessa got up and slowly dressed herself, then the nurse served her breakfast. It was the maid’s day off, and she waited for her mother to leave for the office before she summoned the woman.
“Miss Barlow,” she said to the nurse.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“I’m feeling well today, and I want you to take the day off.”
“I’m not sure you’re up to that,” she replied.
“I think I am, and it’s time to find out. Mother will be back at noon. If I need anything, she’ll get it for me.”
The nurse brightened at the idea of the day off. “Well, if you’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Miss Vanessa.” She got her handbag and left.
Vanessa walked into her bedroom and packed a small suitcase, then got back into her wheelchair. The movers and the first nurse arrived on time.
She led them around the apartment, pointing out which things she wanted packed and which should just be moved to the new apartment. She supervised them while they worked. She then felt rested enough to go downstairs and spread some hundred-dollar bills among the staff not to tell her mother where she was moving. “Your story is, the movers showed up and took my belongings away. I didn’t leave a forwarding address. I will be using the name Carolyn Baum. Only those people using that name should be admitted to my floor or put through on the house phone.” She went upstairs, unlocked her new apartment door, then went to the old one, got back into her wheelchair, and watched the movers remove everything. Satisfied that nothing was left, she wrote a letter to her mother, explaining that she was moving because she needed to handle the remainder of her recovery on her own. She left her keys on the hall table and went upstairs four floors, to the penthouse.
She supervised the unpacking and placing of her belongings, then sent the nurse out for groceries. She was done by three o’clock, then she called Stone.
“Hello?”
“Hi, it’s Vanessa.”
“How did the move go?”
“It’s done; everything is unpacked and in its place. I’ve bribed the building’s staff to tell my mother that I moved out without leaving an address, and I’ve sent out for groceries. For the time being, my name is Carolyn Baum. So if you visit, ask for that name.”
“Is there anything further I can do for you?”
“Well, I’m going to need a car soon.”
“Peter’s car is being repaired and cleaned and should be ready in a few days, if you want to arrange a parking space for it. Bryce Gelbman is dealing with the insurance company on behalf of the estate, then he’ll have it reregistered in your name.”
“Wonderful. I’m not on any medication now, so all I need is time to get well. I’ll call you when I’m ready to go out. In the meantime, if Mother calls, you know nothing. Tell her the staff told you I had moved out of the building.”
“All right. If you need to run, come here, and I’ll make you comfortable.”
“Stone, do you think you can get me a new iPhone with a new number?”
“Certainly. I’ll have it sent over to Ms. Baum in the morning.”
“Thank you so much.” She hung up.
It occurred to Stone that he and Bryce Gelbman were the only people outside her building who knew where she was. He asked Joan to arrange for the new phone, then, late in the afternoon he went to visit Vanessa Baker. Her mother answered the door.
“Good afternoon, Betty,” he said. “I hope Vanessa feels well enough to see me.”
She stared at him for a moment. “Come in, Stone.”
Stone followed her into the living room and took a seat. “Is she feeling better?”
“I assume so,” Betty answered. “She’s moved out of this building without leaving a forwarding address.”
Stone tried to look surprised. “Well, I’m sure she’ll call you soon.”
“Stone, look at me,” Betty said, staring at him. “Where is Vanessa?”
“Betty, you just told me she has moved out.”
“I know you know where she is.”
“If I knew that, I’d have gone to her new address instead of here.”
“She must have told someone,” Betty said.
“Perhaps she’s concerned, after Peter’s death, that she might be in some danger.”
“Why would she be in danger?”
“She was sitting next to Peter when she was poisoned. It’s reasonable for her to think that it may have been intended for Peter. And then, of course, he was murdered.”
She nodded. “Of course. I expect you’re right. She’ll be in touch.”
Stone rose and excused himself, then went down to the lobby, to the front desk. “Would you ring Ms. Carolyn Baum and ask her if she’d like to see me?” he asked the desk man. “If she’s indisposed, I can come back.”
The man rang the apartment and hung up. “You may go right up, Mr. Barrington. She’s in the penthouse.”
Stone rode the elevator up and rang the bell. Vanessa came to the door under her own steam. “Come in, Stone.”
Stone went in and took a seat on the sofa, the only piece of furniture in the room except for the piano. “This is going to be very nice,” he said.
“Yes, it is. A friend of mine, a stage designer, is coming over tomorrow to talk about what to fill it up with. She has a lot of contacts for renting or buying furniture. Would you like a drink? Peter stocked the bar.”
“Thank you, yes, but I’ll get it.”
She pointed to the cabinet. “It’s behind the bookcase, just pull.”
Stone pulled the bookcase, revealing a full bar behind it. “Would you like something?”
“I think it’s too soon for me to drink.”
Stone came and sat down again. “I saw Betty a few minutes ago.”
She looked alarmed. “Why?”
“I thought it might seem odd if I stopped coming to see you. She grilled me thoroughly, but I told her nothing. May I ask why you don’t want her to know where you are?”
“I suppose you have a right to ask,” Vanessa said. “I’m not sure I can trust her.”
Stone took a breath, then asked why.
“Please don’t ask,” she said. “Just keep my secret for the time being.”
“All right,” Stone said, “I will.”